Apparatus for finishing and mounting terminals on lamp bulbs



March 5, 1963 G. E. ALGATT ETAL 3,079,666

APPARATUS FOR FINISHING 1mm MOUNTING TERMINALS on LAMP BULBS Filed June 2. 1961 s Sheets-Sheet 1 ?.lg l 25 76 JIIJVE'NT'UFPS E. E1 HAG/77'7" LL/. 5'. 7-70 Iii/5% 'T'T P iI Mam}! 1963 G. E. ALGATT ErAL 3,079,666

APPARATUS FOR FINISHING AND mum-me TERMINALS on LAMP BULBS Filed June 2, 1961 s Sheets-Sheet 2 LLAEZ TU E TTUFNEH March 5, 1963 G. E. ALGATT ETAL 3,079,665

APPARATUS FOR FINISHING AND MOUNTING TERMINALS on LAMP BULBS Filed June 2, 1961 s Sheets-Shet z ZN VENTURJE' GZEZULJEFI'TT LL/. 5 C7 U i J7" U NE iUtlilZd 3,079,666 ABIARATUS FGR FlNlSHiNG AND MQUNTEIQG TERMlNALS N LAMP BULBE? George E. Algatt, Allentown, and Willard G. Gtto,

Scnueclrsville, Pa, assignors to Western Electric Compauy incorporated, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed June 2, 1961, Ser. No. 114,439 8 Claims. (Cl. 29-2519) This invention relates to apparatus for finishing and mounting terminals on lamp bulbs, more particularly, switchboard lamp bulbs.

in an apparatus for manufacturing switchboard lamps, the lamp bulbs are supported in finishing bars, as shown in applicants co-pendin application, Serial No. 114,441, filed lune 2, 1961, which are moved relative to apparatus at different stations to complete and test the lamps. The first of the finishing steps, through the aid of the finishing bars, includes the partial formation of the terminals followed by the finishing of the terminals and the util'mation of the finishing bars to hold the terminals in place after they have been provided with a suitable conductive cement and moved into accurate positions relative to the lamp bulbs.

An obj ct of the present invention is an apparatus which is simple in structure and highly efiicient in finish ing and mounting terminals on lamp bulbs.

in accordance with the obiect, the apparatus includes an arm mounted for movement between a finishing position and a mounting position and carrying a finishing tool adapted to finish forming the terminal, a cutter also being carried by the arm and adapted to cut each finished terminal from a strip of partially formed terminals so that when the arm is moved into the mounting position, the finished terminal will be mounted on the lamp bulb.

More specifically, a suction means is incorporated in, and associated with, the forming tool to hold the finished terminal in engagement with the forming tool during the mounting of the terminal on the bulb. Also, a companion element disposed adjacent tie finishing position is operable first, in cooperation with the finishing tool to assist in finishing the forming of each terminal, and to cooperate also with the cutter to cut the finished terminal from the strip.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view or" the apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of portions of the apparatus at the end of the finishing operation and prior to the cutting operation;

FIG. 3 is a view of the structure shown FIG. 2

t the end of the cutting operation with the companion element extended;

I FIG. 4 is a view of the structure shown in PEG. 3 with the companion element contracted; and

P16. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the portions of the arm, the finishing tool, and a backing element at the end of the mounting movement.

The apparatus, as shown in FIG. 1, includes a table 1:?- mounted at a given position relative to a guide it for a series of successive finishing bars 12, as disclosed in the aforementioned co-pending application. Each bar has 32 finishing positions disposed at equally spaced positions longitudinally of the bar for receiving and supporting lamp bulbs 14. The lamp bulbs are supported between pairs of resilient conductive members 15. Furthermore, the bars are constructed so that the equal spacing of the finishing positions will continue from one bar to another permitting the advancement of the bars during like time intervals with like rest intervals, wherein the bulbs will be positioned successively at what may be called a mounting station where they will receive the terminals singly.

A metallic strip, indicated generally at 17, containing partially formed terminals, is advanced intermittently along a guide 18, the distance of the length of each terminal, beneath a cutter 19 which is secured by set screws 26, an aperture of a supporting bracket 21 mounted at 22 on the table iii. The cutter 19' may be adjusted in its aperture by a screw 2-3 so that its cutting edge will be located relative to a finishing position of an arm 25, shown in solid lines in PEG. 1, the broken line position of the arm indicating its approach to the mounting position shown more clearly in FIG. 5.

The arm 25 is of the contour shown in FlG. 1 fixedly mounted on a spindle as which is jou-rnalled in suitable hearings in the bracket 21. The upper portion of the arm 25 is formed with a guideway 27 square in crosssection in spaced members 23 and 2% secured in place by screws 39. A finishing tool 32 is frictioually mounted the guideway 27 of t to arm.

The finishing tool has a lower end 33 provided with companion angularly positioned surfaces 34- and 35 to produce a finishing bend in end portions 36 of terminals 37. The finishing tool also has passageways 38 and 3? extending in parallel positions from suction ports at the surfaces 34 and 35', respectively, to a main passageway 4% in the forming tool. The passageway 4t? is connected by suitable means, not shown, to a suction line 41 which is under constant suction.

An adjustable stop 49, carried by an extension 59 of the bracket 21, controls the location of the arm 25 in the finishing position. The means to move the arm to the mounting position, shown substantially in FIG. 5, includes a cam 51 mounted on a cam shaft 52. The cam shaft 52 is driven in timed relation with the moving means for the finishing bar so that a terminal may be finished and mounted on the successive lamp bulbs while they are at rest in the mounting position. The cam 51 is adapted to rock a lever 53, the right end of which is pivotally supported at 54 by a bracket 55 through engagement with a cam roller 56 to move a link 57 connecting the left end of the lever 53 with a lever 58 which is fixedly mounted on the shaft 26. A spring 59 connecting the link 57 with a fixed position member 69, supported by the table lt serves as a power means to force the arm 25 from the mounting position to the finishing position while the roller engages a low portion (not shown) of the cam 51.

Before the arm is moved from the finishing position to the mounting position, operations are performed to finish the forming of the terminal and to cut it from the strip 37. A backing element 62 is mounted in the arm 25 with a lower edge of an inner surface 63 in a plane with the edge of the cutter 19. The finishing tool 32, frictionally held in the guidcway 27 of the arm, is subject to movement downwardly through the action of a cam 65 mounted on the cam shaft 52 and to movement upwardly by a companion cutter element 65 slidably mounted in a guideway :37 of the bracket 21. The cutting operation is performed by the cutter 19 and the cutter element 66.

The cam 65' is adapted to rock a lever 63 about an axis of a spindle 69 on which it is mounted by engaging a cam follower or roller 7% mounted on the lower end of the lever. The spindle as is rotatably supported by a bracket 71 mounted at 72 on the table it adjacent an aperture '73 in the table, through which the lever extends and in which the lever is free to move. The spindle as has a lever 75 fixed thereto and provided with an adjustable ,head 76 positioned to engage a roller 77 mounted on the outer end of the finishing tool when the finishing tool is located with the arm 25 in the finishing position. 'Iherefore,.the cam 65 is adapted to operate the levers 68 and 75 to-cause movement of the finishing tool 32 downwardly in the direction of the arrow 78, FIG. 2, to the position shown in this figure. A spring 79, connected to the. lever 68, provides the force to rock the levers 63 and75 clockwise when permitted. by a low portion, not shown, of the cam 65.

A. spring 89 having one end connected to a fixed member 81, mounted onthe undersurface of the table 1'0, has its other end connectedto the companion element 66 to. cause aroller 82 to: engage an adjustable head $3 of a lever 84 and to serve to return the companion element from an operated position, shown in FIG. 3, to its normal position, shown in- FIG. 1. The lever 84 supports the head 83 in any desired adjusted position to control the extent of the operative movement of the element 66 and is fixedly mounted on a spindle 85. The spindle 85 issupported by a bracket 86 secured at 87 to the undersurface'of the table 10. The upper end of a cam lever 89 is fixed to the spindle 85 While the lower end of the lever supports a cam follower or roller 96 held by the spring 80in engagement with a cam 91 mounted on the cam shaft 52.

Operation Beginning with the apparatus, in the position shown in FIG. 1, with the arm 25 in its finishing position and the forming tool 32 and the companion cutting element 66 in their normal or open positions, the strip 17 is advanced by suitable means, not shown, to locate the next partially formed terminal connected thereto in a position wherethis terminal may be. finished and mounted through .a single cycle of operation of the apparatus. At this time,

thefinishing bar 12 ismoved to present the next bulb in the mounting station.

The cams 51, 65, and 91 function in their proper orders, first, to cause the cutting element 66 to move into the position shown in FIG. 2 after which the finishing tool 32 is moved to the. position shown. In other words there- .is a pause of the element 66 at FIG. 2 until the finishing toolfinishesforming the terminal, at which time, the element 66 continues itsupward movement to cut the terminal with thecutter 19- from the strip 17.

The contours of the cams 65 and 91 are such that this upward movement of the element 66 will push finishing tool 32 to its upward position with the cam 65 maintain ing a holding force to locate the cut end of the terminal in engagement with a surface 63 of the element 62. When this portion of the operating cycle of the element 66 has been completed, the spring 80 will function to return theelement 66'to its normal position through the control of: its cam. 91.

At this time, with theterminal 37 held by the finishing tool-in a position where it has been pushed by the element 66,.the arm 25 is rocked by its cam 51 into the position shown in FIG. where the finished terminal is forced between the bulb 14 and the adjacent resilient member 15. This action is assured not only by the suction means embodied in the furnishing tool, but. by the assistance of the backing element- 62 engaging the upper endv of the terminal and forcing the terminal into position.

Although the suction is applied to the ports through the passageways 38 and 39 continuously, and is suflicient to. maintain. the terminal on the finishing tool during mounting of the terminal, the gripping force of the conducti-ve member 15 is sulficient to break this connection. This illustrates the mounting of a terminal on one side of? each bulb. In. actual practice, there are two apparatus,

identical in every way with exception that one is positioned to mount a terminal on one side of each lamp 4 bulb, while the other is positioned to mount the terminfl on the other side of each lamp bulb.

It is to be understood that the above described a1- rangements are simply illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Numerous other arrangements' may .be readily devised by those skilled; in the art which will embody the principles of the invention andlfall within the spirit. and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for finishing and mounting" terminals, partially formed, in a strip, on lamp bulbs moved successively to 'amounting stationin'holders'having resilient members disposed on the holders adjacent the lamp bulbs comprising an. arm, means to support the arm for. movement between afinishing position anda mounting position, a finishing tool carried by the arm and ad'aptedto finish forming each terminal, a. cutter carried by the armv and adapted to cut each finished terminal. from the strip, means for guiding the strip relative to. the finishing tool, and means to move the arm to the mounting position to cause mounting of the terminal on a lamp bulh at the mounting station.

2. An apparatus according 'to claim'l in which. an element is actuatable to assist thefini'shing tool in finishing-the forming of the terminals and-to assist the cutter .in cutting the terminalswfromthe strip;

3. An apparatus according to claim 1v in which the finishing tool is movably carried by the arm and hasa terminal engaging end of a predetermined contour. adapted .to engage one side of the terminal, an element adapted to engage the other side of the terminal and assistthe tool in finishing the formation of the terminal, andmeans actuable to move the tool relative to the arm toward the element.

4. An apparatus accordingtoclaim 3 in which means supports the element for movement relative to the finishingtool, and means operable to cause movementof the element to engage the partially formedterminal and assist the tool in finishing the terminal short of the. cutter.

5.v An apparatus according to claim 3 in which means supports the element for movement relative to the finishing tool, and means operable to cause movement of the element a given distance to engage the partially formed terminal and assist the tool in finishing the terminal short of the cutter and operable to cause -further movement of theelement and the tool tomove the terminal relative. to the cutter to cut the finished terminal from the. strip.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which as'uction port is disposed in the finishing tool at a terminal engaging surface thereof, and a suction controlmeans connected to the suction port and renderedmfiective to hold the terminal on the tool. while being finished and to release the terminal when mounted.

7. Anapparatus 'accordingto cIaimS in which-suction ports are disposed in the terminal engaging end of the finishing tool, and a suction control. means connected to the suction ports and rendered effective to holdlthe terminal on the tool while being finished and to. release the terminal Whenmounted.

8. An apparatus according to claim '3 in which the moving means for the finishing tool moves the tool' in one direction untilthe terminal engaging surface thereof engages one side of the terminal and the. element engages an opposing side of theterminal to assist the tool in finishing forming theterminal, and means to cause movement of theelement in a' direction opposing said direction of movement of the tool to first assist the tool in the final forming of the terminal and to move the terminal and tool relative to the cutter to assist in cutting the terminal from the strip and to position the tool supporting the terminal. in the arm for mounting of the terminal on the lamp bulb.-

Noreferences cited; 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR FINISHING AND MOUNTING TERMINALS, PARTIALLY FORMED IN A STRIP, ON LAMP BULBS MOVED SUCCESSIVELY TO A MOUNTING STATION IN HOLDERS HAVING RESILIENT MEMBERS DISPOSED ON THE HOLDERS ADJACENT THE LAMP BULBS COMPRISING AN ARM, MEANS TO SUPPORT THE ARM FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN A FINISHING POSITION AND A MOUNTING POSITION, A FINISHING TOOL CARRIED BY THE ARM AND ADAPTED TO FINISH FORMING EACH TERMINAL, A CUTTER CARRIED BY THE ARM AND ADAPTED TO CUT EACH FINISHED TERMINAL FROM THE STRIP, MEANS FOR GUIDING THE STRIP RELATIVE TO THE FINISHING TOOL, AND MEANS TO MOVE THE ARM TO THE MOUNTING POSITION TO CAUSE MOUNTING OF THE TERMINAL ON A LAMP BULB AT THE MOUNTING STATION. 